h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I watched the Channel 4 drama, The Bradford Riots last night: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,14934-2145242,00.html

It was reasonably good - a reminder of how that summer many ordinary, decent British citizens across Northern England were provoked to violence following extreme pressure from racist thugs - although they didn't make nearly enough of the orchestrated intimidation that went on throughout that summer.

But one thing struck me. Call me paranoid...but they kept refering to the NF - a tiny, fringe fascist group which has pretty much faded away from its peak in the 70s. Was this possibly self-censorship on the part of the programme makers, afraid of being sued by the now respectable, mainstream BNP? Because it is well known that they were behind it. They may have convinced the BBC to conduct 'fair and balanced' interviews with the media-friendly Nick Griffin, but these are people whose hobbies typically include beating up elderly Bangladeshis and collecting Nazi memorabilia.

And then...I wake up this morning to find that the BNP have 11 seats on Barking council and are now the official opposition. And Nick Griffin being solemly interviewed on Radio 4 about how his party members will represent their communities.

http://www.s-light.demon.co.uk/
http://www.anl.org.uk

It's only partly coincidence that I'm wearing my hootoo-renowned Malcolm X t-shirt today. There was one other that I could have ironed.

I have to say, the BNP kind of scares me. Every country has its extremists, but the BNP are so extraordinarily open about being extremists that it's both weird and frightening.

Eek! Because of some Moderation nonsense, I've got two identical Journal Entries. You wouldn't mind C&Ping to the other would you, emr, and I'll reply there.